These little nibbles are deliciously savory and easy to make. All you need is goat cheese, dates, bacon, and balsamic vinegar- that’s only 4 ingredients! More specifically:

1 lb. Medjool Dates

1 package bacon

4 oz. goat cheese

1 cup balsamic vinegar (will reduce down to 1/4 cup)

toothpicks

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

Slice down one side of each date so that you can remove the pit (it should remain in one piece). The only dates I could find in my local grocery store were already pitted, so I could skip this step.

Pack each hallow date with goat cheese and then close it back up, and wrap bacon around it. It used between 1/3 to 1/2 a slice of bacon on each date. Slide a wet toothpick through the center to secure the bacon.

Bake in a pan/dish with sides (to catch the grease) for 30-40 minutes. Flip them over after 20 minutes of cooking.

While the dates are in the oven, boil 1 cup of balsamic vinegar. Once it’s boiling, turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer for about 30 minutes. It should be reduced to a syrupy texture.

They were a huge hit at our little holiday get-together. Personally, I couldn’t get enough of them!

Remove the dates from the oven and glaze with the balsamic, then serve.

I’m sure they’ll be a hit! You could even prep them hours ahead and just pop them in the oven when you’re ready. There are always so many last-minute things to do when you’re entertaining. Happy holidays!

P.S. be sure you don’t put a glass dish from fridge to oven. I’ve cracked a few that way…